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Gravel roads near Premier 1 Supplies will soon be paved. Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius announced that the state will help with funding the project, “The DOT Commission did approve our RISE grant application for $250,000 for that project with Premier Sheep. So we need to shuffle stuff around and start work on that.”

The preliminary estimate to make a 22-foot wide paved road with about one foot of rock shoulder is approximately $1.7 million. Previously WEDG Director David Collins explained that had the county had zoning in place, they would’ve been able to ask for up to half of the project cost.

Work will include paving a portion of 300th Street, Kiwi Avenue and 290th Street southwest of Washington to improve access to Premier 1 Supplies. The importer and distributor of high-end supplies and equipment for farms will be expanding and creating 25 new full-time jobs, and $6.5 million in associated capital investment. By using Farm to Market roads and funding, as well as other fund streams, the county will be responsible for approximately 43% of the cost of the project, or $775,000. The pavement project is anticipated to be completed by April of 2021.